I had phases of feelings about this story. The middle dragged on, in bouts of teenage angst (amplified by the complete insanity of brainwashing children for most of their lives and then sending them into space) that, frankly, I didn’t care about at all. It took me a long while to get from launch to peak action. And by the time I hit the action, I felt like it went by way too quickly. So much information came out in the last 15% of the book that I would’ve enjoyed exploring more, instead of the middle, say, 30% or so of the story starting after launch.

But Oh does an incredible job of putting the reader into the soaring highs and deep and hollow lows that I imagine can only come from such a singularly focused, long-awaited, tragically hopeful and dangerous mission as this one. Her ability to evoke both intense beauty and intense pain is remarkable.

The pacing and disconnectedness of character development are not enough to deter me from recommending this book. The premise is interesting, the writing style is impactful, and the characters have a diversity that’s rare to see in sci-fi. I look forward to seeing what such a promising new author will offer us next.

You know when you get near the end of a book and you’re just so in love with the characters and so invested in their journey and you have to keep putting it down so it’ll last longer and you don’t have to say goodbye? That’s what happened to me with Terra-Two.

An epic character driven sci-fi, we join six teenagers who have been selected to join four veteran astronauts on a 23 year long journey to a new earth. The science in the book is so well researched (I was not surprised to find out the author did a neuroscience degree) but it never becomes overwhelmingly technical or difficult to follow. The reality of space travel is incredibly intense but this is balanced perfectly with some really in depth character driven drama. I fell a bit in love with everyone on board, from the prickly doctor to the apparently arrogant Harry. I don’t want to say more for fear of ruining the book but I highly recommend this, the characters are all so well-rounded and diverse and I rooted for all of them on this most epic of journeys.

(Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)

I received this book via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was such a great concept! I really liked the idea of the UK leading this space race, and how it came about - plus the wrapping of the religious side throughout was very cleverly done. I sort of wanted it to be real lol. For us to still be clamouring to develop out into the universe, to come up with new technologies, encourage new ways of thinking, all to allow us to do that.

I found it really interesting how much the trip changed the characters too - ones I didn't like at the beginning really grew on me because of it (Harry and Jesse) and ones I liked turned into ones I loved. I particularly liked Juno's arc - her thoughts on the future and how best to be fair.

I found Poppy's arc quite difficult - I love that it dealt with mental health, but it seemed so sudden in development and in clearing up. I know some of that is done in the time jumps, but I would have liked to see more on that, and with the doctor.

The time jumps and POV changes were hard for me, but I think that was the poor formatting of the galley, sadly. I'd be very interested to read this in final copy, as I think it would be easier when properly formatted.

All in all, I really loved this story of setting out into space, and hoping for a new future for the human race. I am not sure if there will be a follow up, but I'd love to read it if there is.

(Sorry if you read a review of this twice from me, I think GR ate my first one!)

Not quite what I was expecting. Interesting enough, but no real excitement until about 3/4 of the way through.

I started this novel on a Saturday morning and did nothing else until I finished it on Saturday evening. Was not disappointed in my Saturday.

3.75

From acknowledgments: “Every time that I ask him to listen to a chapter that I’m working on and he sighs or plays video games instead of reading proof pages, I mentally cross his name off this list… He inspires me every day and whilst this book could probably have been written without him, I would not be the woman I am without him.”